Puzzle game



July 9, 1935. J. GREENE PUZZLE GAME Filed Nov. 21; 1935 4 m m E H M a 5M A m 6 A B C D l J K L M N O P Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED TATES- PUZZLE GAME I Josephine Greene, Arlington, lt fass assignor of one-fourth to Esther Anne Power and one-half to Edward lhGreene, both of Arlington, Mass. ApplicationNovemberZl, 1933, Serial No. 699,025

' Q'Claims. (015 734157) This invention relates to puzzle games and per,-

tains more particularly to games ofskill involve ing' sliding movement of. disarranged pieces or blocksto form a complete puzzle picture. One

of the objects of the invention isto provide a rectangular frame adapted to receive several rows of rectangular blocks or puzzle. pieces, the thickness of the blocks being approximately equal to the depth of the frame and the frame having a side opening aligned with one of-theblock rows and of a size to receive one block while the remaining pieces are beingmoved within the frame proper in completing the puzzle."

Another object is tofurnish means for locatingv the puzzle pieces in a prearranged disorder and for identifying the successive moves of the respective blocks as they are slid, relatively to each other into their proper ultimate positions to form a completedrectangular picture Thus, by afiixing suitable indicia to the blocks and to the spaces which they occupy withinthe frame, the skill of one player may be comparedywith that of another or with a predetermined standard defining the minimum number of moves required to finish the puzzle.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and economical game device 'of this character which may be made of. cardboard. or

other sheet material and which comprises a back part or base, a frame portion forming the border of the puzzle field, and a top or cover section foldable over the frame portion thereby to enclose the blocks within the frame or border when the game is not in use.

These and other features of the improved puzzle game will be apparent from the following description of the recommended embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing; and will be pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the improved puzzle, the cover being opened and the blocks being arranged in disorder for the commencement of play;

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, with the blocks removed from the frame;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the cover closed to retain the pieces against displacement; i i

Fig. 4 is a front view of a blank used in makin a modified form of the puzzle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the blank with an end section folded under the central frame section;

Fig. 6 is an edge view (partly in section) of' Fig.5, the cover section being folded over toward the frame section; and V ,Fig. '1 is a sectional view "of a closed puzzle game made from the blank of Fig. 4.

a In the particular embodiment chosen for the purposeof illustration in Figs-1 to 5, the puzzle game comprises a base or back sectionZl; a recessed or. cut-out portion 22 constituting a rectangularspace' for the puzzle pieces and: surrounded by a border or frame section 23,.the border having'an additional opening 24 leading to the frame recess 22; a plurality of rectangular blocks 25 arranged in vertical and. horizontal rowswithin the frame; and a cover 26- ofsubstantially the same size as the base and frame sections pivotally connected to the recessed base and adapted to fold over the frame portion and onto the surface of the border l3, as'by a web hinge 21 thereby to enclose the pieces and 1 2 vent their displacement from the frame while the game is not in use. It will be evident that the puzzle'pieces 25 may be cut from the. stock which has beendiedor stamped outof the frame section, thus effecting an economy ofma-terial and ensuring that the blocks will fit nicely with-.

in thefr'ame with theirupper faces flush with the surfaces of the border 23. The blocks displaycomplemental portions of a complete rectangular puzzle picture which may be reproduced on the insideof thecover 26 asan aidin solving the puzzle; and the faces of the blocks also bear index characters such as the numerals I to IE indicated in Fig. 1, to show their initial positions and to identify each piece as it is moved within the frame. The spaces underlying the respective blocks are also marked with a complemental seriesof indicia, such as the letters A to P (Fig. 2),and the side opening is indicated by the letter K. Hence the player may keep an accurate record of his successive moves for comparison with a correct solution of the puzzle, and this record will also show the total number of moves which have been necessary to complete the picture.

It will be apparent. that the first move will necessarily be block 8 to space X (as in Figs. 1 and. 3), and that the next move will be block 4 or I or 12 to space H. Asone space will remain vacant, the various pieces may be slid horizontally or vertically without removing them from the frame until the puzzle is finally solved; the final move being block 8 from space X to space H. The puzzle picture will then correspond to the complete rectangular picture shown on the cover (or elsewhere), and the record of number of moves will show whether the player is expert", fair, or poor as compared with another player or with the approved solution.

It will be understood that the number of puzzle pieces may be varied within wide limits according to the simplicity or complexity of solution which is desired; that the puzzle subject may be a picture, map, design or combination of words, letters or figures; and that the nature of the index characters on the blocks and frame spaces may be reversed or otherwise modified as desired.

The optional form of puzzle game shown in Figs. 4 to 7 may be cut or stamped from a single sheet of cardboard or the like, the blank comprising a back section 3|; a cut out opening 32 in the intermediate frame section 33 which is provided with the side opening 34; the puzzle blocks 35 divided from the portion cut from the frame proper; and a front or cover member 36. The back and front sections are connectedto the frame portion 33 at the weakenedor fold lines 31 and 38 respectively; the base 3i is folded under the frame. and attached to the border by adhesive 39 or other fastening. means; and. the front cover is foldable over. the frame in the manner previously described. This arrangement simplifies the printing and identification of the spaces onthe back section and .the depiction of the completed picture on the cover; and the entire article-may be distributed in an envelope as an advertising novelty.

Other modifications of the structures herein described may be practiced to suit particular purposes without departing from the essence of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: i

,1. A puzzle game formed of a single sheet of material and comprising a. rectangular frame, a back section folded under said frame and secured thereto to provide a base for the frame recess, a series of puzzle pieces fitting .within the frame, and a cover section folding over the frame to enclose said puzzle pieces therewithin.

. 2. A puzzle game formed of a single sheet of material and comprisinga rectangularframe, a back section folded under said frame and secured thereto to provide a base for the frame recess, a series of puzzle pieces formed from the material removed from the frame recess and fitting within the frame, and a cover section folding over the frame to enclose said puzzle pieces therewithin, the back section being lined and indexed to indicate the spaces underlying said pieces, and the frame having a side opening leading to said recess and adapted to receive one of said pieces.

3. A puzzle game comprising a back section, a frame section, and a cover section, each formed of relatively stiff and flat sheet material, the frame section being adhesively secured to the back section and the cover being hinged to one of said sections along one side thereof and foldable flatwise over the frame, and a plurality of movable puzzle pieces, also formed of flat sheet material, arranged in rows within the frame recess, each of said pieces displaying a segment of a picture, and the frame having a side opening in line with one of said rows and adapted to receive one of the puzzle pieces, so that the remaining pieces may be slid relatively to each other'within the frame properly to assemble the picture segments displayed. thereon thereby to display a picture which is.completed by moving the offset puzzle piece from the side opening of the frame into the frame proper.

4. A puzzle game comprising a back section, a frame section and a cover section, each formed of relatively stiff and flat sheet material, the frame section being adhesively secured to the back section, and the cover being hinged tov one of said sections along one side thereof and foldable fiatwise over the frame, and a plurality of movable puzzle pieces, also formed of fiat sheet material, arranged in rows within the frame recess, each of said pieces displaying a segment of a picture, and the frame having a side opening in line with one of said rows and adapted to receive one of the puzzle pieces, so that-the remaining pieces may be slid relatively to each other withinthe frame properly to assemble-the picture segments displayed thereon thereby'to display a picture which is completedby moving the offset puzzle piece from the side opening of the frame into the frame proper, the respective puzzle pieces bearing index characters in addition to the picture segments whereby the pieces may be arranged in a predetermined disorder and whereby the player may kep a record of his moves.

' JOSEPHINE GREENE. 

